eolmstrom



3 Sheets- Sheet 1. 0. HOLMSTRUMKz-P. NORDENFELT.

(No Model.)

r QUICK FIBING GUN. 427,081. Patented May 6, 1890.

co.. worn-mu msmmncu, n. c.

a sheets-5mm 2. G. HOLMSTROM & P. NORDBNFELTP' QUICK FIRING GUN (No Model.)

Patented May 6, 1890.

fnvaztard'. Gm! A vuizf M.

ZZQ SQ kg I awn-Aw. y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL l-IOLMSTRUM AND PER NORDENFELT, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE MAXIM-NORDENFELT GUNS AND"AMMUNITION COM- PANY, (LIMITED,) OF SAME PLACE.

\ QUlPK-FIRING GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,081pdated May 6, 1890.

' Application filed January 7, 1890. Serial No. 886,175. I (No model.)

useful Improvements in Quick-Firing Guns,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a quick- :firmg gun suitable for semi-automatic work- The breech part of a gun constructed in accordance with the invention is represented by the annexed drawings.

Figure l is a longitudinal section with the breech closed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with the breech open, and Fig. 3 is a plan with the breech closed.

The portions marked a are the barrel and parts formed therewith. The breech of the gun is closed by abreech-block b, which slides in .a transverse opening or recess a -along suitable slightly-inclinedguides. Thebreechblock receives its movement from a transverse axis 0 upon the gun, and in semi-automatic working the axis receives motion from apparatus connecting it with the cradle or frame along which the gun recoils. This apparatus forms no part of the present invention. Any convenient gearmay be employed which rotates the axis against the resistance of a spring while the gun moves forward upon the cradle and sets the axis free at the end of the forward movement. For handworking the axis a may be turned by means of a hand-lever at its end. The axis has two arms c c projecting up into the breech-recess, one on either side of the breech-block, and these arms are connected by a pin (1 passing through the breech-block from side to side. The hole in the breech-block by which the pin passes is elongated and so formed that the first movement of the arms in opening the breech takes place without moving the breech-block, but in their further movement the arms carry the breech-block with them.

The breech-block is provided with a firingpin e, and in this pin there is a transverse elongated hole. A screw f, passing through the hole and fixed in the breech-block, limits the movement of the firing-pin. A coiled spring 9 presses the firing-pin rearward.

The spring 9 is kept in place by a steel bushing b let into the front of the breech-block.

b is. a locking-pin.

The nose of the firing-pin projects, as shown, through a central hole in the bushing b, and so reaches the priming of the cartridge, which is shown at h. At the time of firing the pin is thrown forward in opposition to this spring by the blow of a hammer i. This hammer is contained in the breech-block. It is mounted on a transverse axis '5' near the lower part of the block and toward the front thereof.

In the breech-block, in front of the hammeraxis and below it, there is a trigger-axis k, and on this axis two sears Z and m are mounted. One, the trigger-sear Z, is fixed upon the axis, and the other or safety sear m is movable around it. The trigger-axis also carries a trigger-arm n, projecting rearward, and this arm at the time of firing is operated upon by trigger mechanism carried by the cradle or frame in which the gun is held. Within the breech-block also, and at the lower part, there is a mainspring. The upper limb o of this spring presses upon the foot of the hammer and throws the hammer forward when it is released. The lower arm of the mainspring is forked, and one of its ends 0' presses upward upon the trigger-searl and causes it to engage with a dent 1? upon the foot of the hammer. The other extremity 0' of the mainspring presses downward upon an arm of the safety-sear on, and thereby gives to the searnose a rearward tendency, and causes it to engage, when free to do so, with a dent 1" upon the hammer in front of its axis.

The gun is provided with a two-armed extractor p, mounted upon a transverse axis 1) upon the gun. The extractor-arms have at their upper ends lips which engage with the flange of the cartridge. The arms are so formed that they project and these projections 19 are struck by studs b formed upon the breech-block, as the breech-block comes to the end of its course in rear of the axis,

in opening. There are also studs 1) upon the arms of the extractor, which enter recesses b in the upper part of the breech-block, and serve to retain the breech-block and prevent the b'eech closing until the cartridge is inserte v The action, then, of the apparatus isas f ollows: In semi-automatic working the mechanism connecting the gun with the cradle turns the principal axis 0 and so opens the breech at the time when the gun moves forward after recoil. At this time a spring also is constrained, which at the end of the forward movement tends to rotate the axis in the contrary direction. Before the breech opens the transverse pintd, bywhich the block is moved, presses against the foot of the hammer i, compressing the mainspring and carryin g the head of the hammer back away from the firing-pin. Then the hammer is thus cocked, the sears l and m fall in and prevent its return. During the opening of the breech the studs b upon the breech-block strike upon the extractor p and cause it to withdraw the case of the cartridge last fired from the chamber of the gun,and this case is projected rearward out of the gun. As soon as the breech is fully open the breech-block.

b. in semi-automatic working immediately commences to return, but it is caught and prevented from doing so by the studs p upon the extractor which engage with it. The breech-block is thus held until another cartridge as it enters the gun displaces the extractor and then immediately the breechblock returns and closes the breech behind the cartridge. At the moment of closing the trigger sear l releases the hammer, being moved away by means of the trigger mechanism operating on the arm n, and the hammer is then only retained by the safety-sear. By further movement of the transverse pin (1 this comes against a prolongation of the safety-sear m, and throws it out of its dent and then'the gnn fires.

When firing with trigger, the trigger mechanism is set so as not to cause the arm n to be moved automatically in closing. The transverse pin, after the breech is fully closed, releases the hammer from the safety-sear, and

the hammer remains retained by the triggersear, which has to be displaced before firing.

What we claim is-- 1. The mechanism consisting of the barrel part a, the breech-block b, the transverse horizontal axis 0 beneath the barrel part, the arms 0' on the axis 0, the pin d, carried by the arms 0' and passing through the breechblock, the firing-pin e and the hammer t' on the axis t"- contained in the breech-block, the

sear m, engaging with the hammer, and the whole so arranged that the pin d operates upon the hammer in opening the breech to bring it to the cocked position, and upon the sear min closing the breech to release the hammer.

2. The mechanism consisting of the barrel part a, the breech-block b, the'transverse horizontal axis 0 below the barrel part, the

arms a on the axis 0, the pin (1, carried by the arms 0' and passing through the breechblock, the firing-pin e, the hammer I, on the axis '5' contained in the breech-block, thesear breech-block b, the firing-pin e, having an' elongated hole through it, the pin f, passing through the said hole and fixed in the breechblock, the spring g, and the hammer 'i. u

CARL HOLMSTROM. PER NORDEN FELT. Witnessesto the signature of Carl Holmstrom.

HUGH LIMEBEER, F. N. NoiiL. Witnesses to the signature of Per Norden felt.

ALBERT CLARKE, DIEGO MITCHELL. 

